Tag: pace cares

While the storm may be over, the recovery is ongoing. The Pace Cares Initiative has worked diligently to provide hands-on assistance, donations of goods, and monetary relief for those affected by Hurricane Sandy.

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Pace University formed the Pace Cares Initiative, the result of a University-wide task force established to mobilize the volunteer efforts of the Pace Community. More than 100 Pace volunteers participated in Pace Cares Day, a collaboration across campuses and departments, on Friday, November 16, in New York City and Westchester County, collecting more than 2,000 items of donated food, clothing, personal care items, and cleaning supplies to assist communities that were severely affected in the wake of super storm Sandy. The donations were distributed to a variety of local and national organizations that are helping victims.

In addition, Pace established the Pace Cares Fund to provide financial assistance to Pace students who were affected by the storm. As of November 30, the fund has raised $34,488 from 490 donors. Contributions can be made online at www.pace.edu/pacecaresor by calling the Office of Development and Alumni Relations at (212) 346-1765.

Students also continue to help those hit hardest in the wake of Sandy. Pace’s Center for Community Action and Research (CCAR) has been continually partnering with volunteers in the communities impacted by the storm.

The CCAR on both campuses recently arranged for student volunteers to help with the post-Sandy clean-up on Staten Island. The students worked with All Hands Volunteers, a nonprofit group dedicated to providing hands-on assistance to impacted communities around the world. The organization estimates that Pace students helped 72 families and contributed to approximately $115,553 of donated labor. More photos of Pace students helping with the Staten Island clean-up can be viewed on the CCAR’s Facebook page.

In total, more than 250 Pace students have participated in organized projects, including:

Working with elected officials (including Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver).

Hosting a clothing drive at three Pace Volleyball home games to aid local residents.

Using the Westchester Campus as a warming center for local residents still without power

Helping with a clean-up at the Westchester SPCA

The Pace Football team was featured on the Red Cross website as “a prime example of a community coming together in the face of a massive tragedy.” For the full articles, click hereand here. “This has been a real learning experience,” said one of the players. “When times get tough, we come together and become one to help the less fortunate.”

While the storm may be over, the recovery is ongoing. There is still a need for hands-on volunteers to staff shelters, hand out food and clothing at distribution centers, and work to clean up/rebuild entire towns. If you’d like to contribute to the relief efforts or if you know of any other ways to provide assistance, please contact ccarplv@pace.edu in Pleasantville or ccarny@pace.edu in New York City with the information.